Ignored

.

…walking in the door Pahn finds
a grayish
wooden room with
a row of windows on the far wall

There is a group of people ....forming
an irregular circle ....engaged in
some sort of meeting ...........that
does not concern Pahn ..........The group
seems to have
a left...............................
................................and a right
the left being closer ...and more familiar
the right being farther away and only vaguely
in Pahn’s view ..........As he encroaches
on the left side of the circle ...Djuturna
strides across the left lobe
and hugs him casually .......introducing him
to the left crowd

Pahn feels ...that Djuturna
is inhibited in this setting ...and yearns
hopelessly for more of her

He passes around the back side of the circle
along the windows toward the right
and finds Ahstrild ...staring out into the light
her hands on the lintel ......like a small child
and Pahn thinks
that she doesn’t see him ...intentionally
but as he approaches she says
“Hi Pahn”
without turning around
and he tries to engage her
but she keeps staring away
....................................fidgeting
like an unresponsive toddler
and he feels that she is still mad at him

after all these years
He moves on..................................................
..................past the strangers
............................................and leaves the room…

.